Friends of Shotwick Park

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Ahead of work starting on the Shotwick Park site this winter the Council would like to support the local community to develop a Friends of Group for Shotwick Park.


First meeting

We’re inviting those interested in getting involved with a Friends of Shotwick Park group to a meeting on Thursday, 25 September 2025, 7 – 9pm at the Saughall Vernon Institute to find out more about being involved in the group.

The meeting will cover:

  • What a Friends of Group is.
  • The type of work they may get involved with.
  • The roles needed within a Friends of Group to make it a success.
  • How the Council will support/engage with the group.

There will also be some time at the end to ask any questions you might have about being involved in the group.

We realise that this date and time might not suit everyone. If you aren’t able to come along but would still like to be part of the Friends of Group, please email biodiversity@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk with your details and ‘Friends of Shotwick Park group’ in the subject line.




A friends of group will help to:

  • bring together local people that value Shotwick Park
  • ensure there are representatives from the local area with a range of interests (users, local residents and volunteers) to work in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council and help steer the management of the area, as well as opportunities to work together practical projects and events for local people.

Why set up a Friends group?

Just as our neighbourhoods need residents’ groups and associations, our parks, nature reserves and greenspaces need ‘Friends’. It’s all about taking ownership, ensuring shared decisions and working together with Cheshire West and Chester Council to ensure Shotwick Park is maintained and improved to meet the needs and views of local people.

What would be involved?

A Friends group can decide on the type of activities they can get involved with. Some of the activities a Friends group could choose to do include:

  • Meet up regularly to discuss your views and concerns about the park.
  • Work in partnership with the Council on maintenance issues and improvements.
  • Produce their own leaflets and/or newsletters for the site.
  • Set up a website about the park and promote Friends activities.
  • Draft a list of projects that it may be interested in doing to compliment the longer-term vision for the site.
  • Work with the Council to undertake practical projects such as creating a wildflower meadow, tree planting, clear-up, wild foraging days, wildlife monitoring or path maintenance days etc.
  • Be the ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground and to promote positive use of the park by users.
  • Hold the Council or contractors to account for quality.
  • Act as advocates for park users, neighbours and volunteers.
  • Organise other events, activities or volunteering opportunities for residents to interact in the park, for example orchard pruning, apple pressing, or heritage days.
  • Explore opportunities for regular opportunities for people to learn more about the site’s fantastic wildlife and heritage, for example history/wildlife walks, capturing and sharing knowledge/expertise, or species monitoring.
  • Research the history of the park and produce a leaflet, virtual reality phone app or on-site information boards.
  • Fundraise for improvements or apply for grants to help with some of the things above.

Getting started

  • Get a small group of interested people together.
  • Promote and call a public meeting to discuss the site and what you’d like to achieve as a group.
  • Scheduling positive activities we can do together.
  • Build up membership of the group. Set up a social media account and a newsletter list to share news and views.

Recommendations when setting up a Friends Group

  • Involve the views of all the various types of users of the site, local residents and volunteers.
  • Be positive and determined. Groups should endeavour to pursue its activities and priorities even when challenges arise.
  • Be an independent group, prepared to work with the Council, local school and pre-school, conservation groups and other community groups (e.g. the Women's Institute, History Society, local Scouts, Brownies and Cubs etc) to achieve its aims.
  • Be constituted – we recommend writing a basic constitution, regularly holding meetings and vote in agreed main positions via an annual general meeting (AGM) such as a Chair, Treasurer, Volunteer and Communications lead. Register for a bank account to help the group to raise donations, apply for and receive funding from different sources and incur expenditure for planned Friends activities and projects.

Ahead of work starting on the Shotwick Park site this winter the Council would like to support the local community to develop a Friends of Group for Shotwick Park.


First meeting

We’re inviting those interested in getting involved with a Friends of Shotwick Park group to a meeting on Thursday, 25 September 2025, 7 – 9pm at the Saughall Vernon Institute to find out more about being involved in the group.

The meeting will cover:

  • What a Friends of Group is.
  • The type of work they may get involved with.
  • The roles needed within a Friends of Group to make it a success.
  • How the Council will support/engage with the group.

There will also be some time at the end to ask any questions you might have about being involved in the group.

We realise that this date and time might not suit everyone. If you aren’t able to come along but would still like to be part of the Friends of Group, please email biodiversity@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk with your details and ‘Friends of Shotwick Park group’ in the subject line.




A friends of group will help to:

  • bring together local people that value Shotwick Park
  • ensure there are representatives from the local area with a range of interests (users, local residents and volunteers) to work in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council and help steer the management of the area, as well as opportunities to work together practical projects and events for local people.

Why set up a Friends group?

Just as our neighbourhoods need residents’ groups and associations, our parks, nature reserves and greenspaces need ‘Friends’. It’s all about taking ownership, ensuring shared decisions and working together with Cheshire West and Chester Council to ensure Shotwick Park is maintained and improved to meet the needs and views of local people.

What would be involved?

A Friends group can decide on the type of activities they can get involved with. Some of the activities a Friends group could choose to do include:

  • Meet up regularly to discuss your views and concerns about the park.
  • Work in partnership with the Council on maintenance issues and improvements.
  • Produce their own leaflets and/or newsletters for the site.
  • Set up a website about the park and promote Friends activities.
  • Draft a list of projects that it may be interested in doing to compliment the longer-term vision for the site.
  • Work with the Council to undertake practical projects such as creating a wildflower meadow, tree planting, clear-up, wild foraging days, wildlife monitoring or path maintenance days etc.
  • Be the ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground and to promote positive use of the park by users.
  • Hold the Council or contractors to account for quality.
  • Act as advocates for park users, neighbours and volunteers.
  • Organise other events, activities or volunteering opportunities for residents to interact in the park, for example orchard pruning, apple pressing, or heritage days.
  • Explore opportunities for regular opportunities for people to learn more about the site’s fantastic wildlife and heritage, for example history/wildlife walks, capturing and sharing knowledge/expertise, or species monitoring.
  • Research the history of the park and produce a leaflet, virtual reality phone app or on-site information boards.
  • Fundraise for improvements or apply for grants to help with some of the things above.

Getting started

  • Get a small group of interested people together.
  • Promote and call a public meeting to discuss the site and what you’d like to achieve as a group.
  • Scheduling positive activities we can do together.
  • Build up membership of the group. Set up a social media account and a newsletter list to share news and views.

Recommendations when setting up a Friends Group

  • Involve the views of all the various types of users of the site, local residents and volunteers.
  • Be positive and determined. Groups should endeavour to pursue its activities and priorities even when challenges arise.
  • Be an independent group, prepared to work with the Council, local school and pre-school, conservation groups and other community groups (e.g. the Women's Institute, History Society, local Scouts, Brownies and Cubs etc) to achieve its aims.
  • Be constituted – we recommend writing a basic constitution, regularly holding meetings and vote in agreed main positions via an annual general meeting (AGM) such as a Chair, Treasurer, Volunteer and Communications lead. Register for a bank account to help the group to raise donations, apply for and receive funding from different sources and incur expenditure for planned Friends activities and projects.